Cell structure for use in an acoustic panel, and methods of producing the same

ABSTRACT

An improved cell structure that enables design improvements to acoustic panels is provided. The provided cell structure for an acoustic panel is (i) capable of damping a wider range of audible frequencies, (ii) able to be easily combined and integrated into a variety of panel dimensions, and (iii) manufacturable using additive manufacturing techniques such as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to acoustic panels and methodsof producing the same, and more particularly relates to a cell structurefor use in various acoustic panel applications, and methods of producingthe same.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/702,414 filed Sep. 12, 2017, and entitled “CELLSTRUCTURE FOR USE IN AN ACOUSTIC PANEL, AND METHODS OF PRODUCING THESAME,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

In a variety of applications, such as aircraft, aircraft engines,automotive, mining, farming, audio equipment, heating ventilation andair conditioning (HVAC), and the like, pressure waves are generated in abroad range of audible frequencies. The audible frequencies are soundwaves experienced as noise. Acoustic treatments employ acoustic panelsto dampen the sound waves.

The performance of a given acoustic panel is generally increased byincreasing its surface area. However, technological challenges inmanufacturing and material forming techniques often limit the amount ofsurface area available. This often drives acoustic panel designs thatemploy only a single degree of freedom (damping sound waves at a singlefrequency) or a double degree of freedom (damping sound waves at twofrequencies).

Accordingly, design improvements to acoustic panels are desirable. It isfurther desirable to address these technological challenges at afundamental building block level. It is desirable, therefore, to providean improved cell structure for an acoustic panel (i) capable of dampinga wider range of audible frequencies, (ii) able to be easily combinedand integrated into a variety of panel dimensions, and (iii)manufacturable using additive manufacturing techniques. Furthermore,other desirable features and characteristics of the present embodimentwill become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings andthis background of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This summary is provided to describe select concepts in a simplifiedform that are further described in the Detailed Description. Thissummary is not intended to identify key or essential features of theclaimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Provided is a cell structure for use in an acoustic panel, the cellstructure comprising: a cavity enclosed by a continuous boundary wall,the boundary wall (i) having a central axis, (ii) having a regularshaped cross section perpendicular to the central axis, (iii) having afloor side and an entrance side, (iv) the entrance side separated fromthe floor side by a first height; a support structure arranged in thecavity; and a chamber suspended within the cavity by the supportstructure, the chamber being coaxial with the boundary wall andaxisymmetric around the central axis, the chamber being closed on theentrance side and open on the floor side.

Also provided is an additively manufactured acoustic panel, the acousticpanel comprising: a plurality of integrally joined cell structures, eachcell structure of the plurality of cell structures having the sameentrance side and the same floor side, each cell structure of theplurality of cell structures comprising: (a) a cavity enclosed by acontinuous boundary wall, the boundary wall (i) having a central axis,(ii) having a regular shaped cross section perpendicular to the centralaxis, (iii) having a floor side and an entrance side, (iv) the entranceside separated from the floor side by a first height; (b) a supportstructure arranged in the cavity; and (c) a chamber suspended within thecavity by the support structure, the chamber being coaxial with theboundary wall and axisymmetric around the central axis, the chamberbeing closed on the entrance side and open on the floor side.

In addition, a method for manufacturing a cell structure for an acousticpanel is provided. The method comprises: creating a cavity with acentral axis, a regular shaped cross section perpendicular to thecentral axis, a floor side, and an entrance side, with a continuousboundary wall; arranging a support structure in the cavity; and usingthe support structure to suspend a chamber within the cavity, thechamber being coaxial with the boundary wall and axisymmetric around thecentral axis, the chamber being closed on the entrance side and open onthe floor side; wherein a maximum cross sectional area of the floor sideof the chamber is approximately 50% of a maximum cross sectional area ofthe cell structure, and a maximum cross sectional area of the entranceside of the chamber is approximately 10% of the maximum cross sectionalarea of the cell structure.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the systemand method will become apparent from the subsequent detailed descriptionand the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings and the preceding background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunctionwith the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a cross section of a single cellstructure, showing a chamber suspended within the cell cavity, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting a cross section of a single cellstructure, showing a chamber suspended within the cell cavity, inaccordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top down view of a single cell structure, in accordance withvarious embodiments; and

FIG. 4 is a top down view of an array of single cell structures, inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the various embodiments or the application anduses of the invention. As used herein, the word “exemplary” means“serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Thus, any embodimentdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All of the embodimentsdescribed herein are exemplary embodiments provided to enable personsskilled in the art to make or use the invention and not to limit thescope of the invention that is defined by the claims. Furthermore, thereis no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presentedin the preceding technical field, background, brief summary, or thefollowing detailed description.

A novel cell structure for use in acoustic panels is introduced herein.The provided cell structure has a geometry that may be easily replicatedinto an array of a plurality of interconnected cell structures. Theprovided cell structure is designed to have a suspended hollow chamber,such as an inverted cone. Sound pressure, in the form of sound waves,enter the cell structure and are deflected down the exterior of thechamber, off of a cell structure floor, and then into the interior ofthe chamber. In response to the sound waves in the interior of thechamber, the chamber vibrates up and down, converting the sound wavesinto mechanical heat in the cell structure. The conversion of the soundwaves into mechanical heat decreases the sound pressure within the cellstructure, and dampens the sound wave. This results in a lowered noiselevel. Arrays of the provided cell structure may be used to createacoustic panels for acoustic treatment in applications, such asaircraft, aircraft engines, automotive, mining, farming, audioequipment, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and thelike. The cell structure, and arrays thereof, may be produced using anadditive manufacturing technology.

Additive manufacturing is referenced herein. Additive manufacturing,sometimes referred to as 3D printing, is a process in which an object isformed via successive layering using feed material, and this layeringprocess advantageously averts many complex tooling steps in manyinstances. A given additive manufacturing process may be automated orcomputer-controlled such that a desired object or article is fabricatedon a layer-by-layer basis in accordance with computer-readable designdata, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) files, defining the shape anddimensions of the object. In some additive manufacturing processes, suchas direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), the feed material used formetallic parts of an object may be a powdered metal. In the powderedfeed material process, powdered metal can be applied to a base andmelted in desired locations. The powdered feed material may be meltedwith a laser beam. The melted powder is solidified to form a layer ofthe desired product. More metal powder is provided and melted in desiredlocations to form the next layer, and the process proceeds. In otheradditive manufacturing processes, the source material may be supplied asa powder or in a different form (e.g., as a wire feed, the sourcematerial may be metallic or non-metallic, and other types of targetedenergy (e.g., laser or electron beams) may be utilized to successivelydeposit the source material in desired locations on a base or onprevious layers to gradually build up a desired shape.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a chamber 410 suspended within a cellstructure cavity (472, 572), in accordance with various embodiments, isdescribed. FIGS. 1-2 are cross sectional views cut through a cellstructure central axis, and dividing a respective cell structure crosssectional area into two symmetrical halves. FIGS. 1-2 depict embodimentshaving different cell structure floors. In FIG. 1, cell structure 400 isdefined by an inner diameter 402 measured across a central axis 401.Continuous boundary wall 407 has height 404, and encloses or creates acell structure cavity 472 (hereinafter “cavity”) therein. Although thedepicted continuous boundary wall 407 is solid, in some embodiments, theboundary wall 407 is perforated with a plurality of through-holes.Cavity 472 has an entrance side 150 and a floor side 152.

On the floor side 152, cell structure floor 450 has been modified toform a deflector shield 452 that is uniformly concave (with respect tothe inside of the cell structure 400, or the cavity 472). The deflectorshield 452 is centered on the central axis 401, and has a depth 406.Deflector shield 452 may exclude a central area (i.e., also centered onthe central axis 401) of diameter 454; as may be appreciated, diameter454 is smaller than diameter 402. The central area may have any of avariety of shapes. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the central area is aconvex dome.

Chamber 410 is an inverted cavity that is suspended within the cavity472 (and cavity 572) of cell structure 400 (and cell structure 500), andsmaller in size than a respective cavity 472. A Z axis (403) and an Xaxis (405) are shown for reference. Chamber 410 is coaxial with theboundary wall 407, axisymmetric around the central axis 401, and has achamber height 420. The chamber 410 is closed on the entrance side 416and open on the floor side 418. Chamber 410 has a chamber minimumdiameter 412 on the entrance side 416, and chamber maximum diameter 414on the floor side 418. When sound waves 470 enter into cell structure400, the deflector shield 452 may reflect the sound waves 470 into theinterior of the chamber 410. In an embodiment, the floor side 418 of thechamber 410 has a maximum cross sectional area that is approximately 50%of the maximum cross sectional area of the cell structure 400. Althoughthe chamber 410 is depicted as cone shaped, and about 30% wider on thefloor side than on the entrance side, the chamber 410 may take on othershapes in other embodiments.

In FIG. 2, cell structure 500 is shown having cavity 572 surroundingcentral axis 501. Dimensions of the boundary wall, cell structureradius, deflector shield 452, and the chamber 410 are the same asdescribed in connection with FIG. 1. Again, cell structure floor 450 hasbeen modified to be uniformly concave (with respect to the inside of thecell structure 500, or the cavity 572) in a deflector shield 452 area.Deflector shield 452 has a depth 406, and a central area defined bydiameter 508 that is substantially the same as the diameter 454described in connection with FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the central area definedby diameter 508 is an opening in the cell structure floor 152 to theexterior of the cell structure 500 on the floor side 152. Similar toFIG. 1, when sound waves 509 enter into cell structure 500, thedeflector shield 452 may direct sound waves 509 into the interior of thechamber 410; however, in contrast to FIG. 1, sound waves 509 may thendeflect off of the interior walls of the chamber 410 and exit the cellstructure floor 450 through the opening. In various embodiments, theopening of diameter 508 comprises approximately 30% of a cross sectionalarea of the cell structure floor 450.

As described, the chamber 410 is suspended inside a respective cellstructure cavity. Suspension is provided by an application specificsupport structure arranged within the cavity (472, 572). The components,shape, and orientation comprising the support structure may be based onthe frequencies of the sound waves intended for damping. In variousembodiments, the support structure can comprise one or more beams,springs, or stabilizing rings, and may attach at the boundary wall 407and/or cell structure floor 450. In an embodiment, the support structurecomprises at least one tunable spring beam 602, wherein the dimensionsof the tunable spring beam 602, its curvature, and the material fromwhich it is made, are tunable to (i.e., based on) the anticipated soundwaves associated with the target application. With reference to FIG. 1and FIG. 2, tunable spring beams 602 and 604 are shown. The tunablespring beam 602 is attached on a first end 606 to the chamber 410 and ona second end 608 to the deflector shield 452. The tunable spring beam602 has a length 610; the material, location, curvature, and dimensionsof the at least one tunable spring beam 602 is configured to positionthe exit side 418 of the chamber 410 over a respective central area(with diameter 454 or 508) in a manner that addresses the anticipatedacoustic exposure from the target application. In various embodiments, athird tunable spring beam would be present in the cutaway section, andthe three tunable spring beams would each be separated radially (fromthe central axis 401 or central axis 501) from each other by 120 degreesaround the perimeter of the exit side 418 of the chamber. Accordingly,in the depicted embodiment, the support structure comprises one or moreof the tunable spring beams (602, 604, and the third spring beam).

The support structure of a given cell structure is tunable to apredetermined, application-specific cell frequency that it is desirableto dampen. With respect to support structures that employ tunable springbeams, such as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, all of the utilized tunablespring beams making up the support structure of a given cell structuremay be tuned to substantially the same cell frequency. Further, in someembodiments of an acoustic panel comprising a plurality of cellstructures, the cell frequency of each cell of the plurality of cellstructures is substantially the same. However, in some applications, itis desirable to dampen multiple, predetermined, specific, frequencies;in embodiments addressing this need, an acoustic panel comprising aplurality of cell structures may be created in which each cell structureof the plurality of cell structures has a support structure (i.e., itstunable spring beams) that is tuned to a cell frequency that is adifferent one of the multiple, predetermined, specific, frequencies. Asmay be understood, an acoustic panel made from a plurality of integratedcell structures, each tuned to a different cell frequency, enables eachrespective chamber to resonate at the designated cell frequency, tocollectively absorb sound across a broad range of frequencies.

The top down view 700 in FIG. 3 shows the hexagonal shape of the cellstructure 400 and/or 500 in various embodiments. Viewing the cellstructure from the entrance side 150, the chamber 410 has entrance sidediameter 706, measured with respect to the central axis 704, and theexit side of the chamber 410 has diameter 708. The floor of thehexagonal cell structure has outer diameter 710 (largest width), andinner diameter 712 (smallest width). In an embodiment, a maximum crosssectional area of the floor side of the chamber 410 is approximately 50%of a cross sectional area of the floor of the cell structure 700. Inaddition, in some embodiments, a maximum cross sectional area of theentrance side 416 of the chamber 410 is approximately 10% of the maximumcross sectional area of the floor side 418 of the chamber 410. In otherwords, a maximum circular area with diameter 706 is approximately 10% ofa maximum circular area with diameter 708.

Turning now to FIG. 4, an array 800 of cell structures is shown. Array800 is organized such that a first dimension 802 has a plurality of rowsof cell structures, and a second dimension 804 has a plurality ofcolumns of cell structures. Single cell structure 806, on the edge ofarray 800, is indicated for reference. Cell structure 806 has sharedboundary walls, such as shared wall 808, and unshared boundary walls,such as unshared wall 810. As may be seen in FIG. 4, the hexagonal shapeof the cell structures maximizes a percentage of shared boundary walls(for example, shared wall 808). In cell structures that are internal tothe array 800, all boundary walls may be shared walls. As is readilyappreciated, embodiments in which the cell structures have differentshapes may result in variations in array organization and percentages ofshared walls to unshared walls.

Face sheet 812 is shown configured to cover the entrance side of each ofthe cavities. Further, face sheet 812 is configured to have a singlethrough-hole 814 that is positioned to be substantially coaxial with thecenter axis of each respective cavity. Face sheet 812 may be separatelymanufactured and attached or brazed to a manufactured array 800 in aseparate step. In other embodiments, face sheet 812 is not a separatepiece, but is instead an integration of a plurality of individual cellstructure ceilings 816, each cell structure ceiling 816 manufactured inthe additive manufacturing process, at the same time as the formation ofthe above described cell structure components. In an embodiment, thethrough-holes 814 may be 10 to 15 thousandths of an inch in diameter.

The n tunable spring beams (602 and 604) and the chamber 410 maycomprise different materials, as is suitable to an application. As maybe appreciated, generation of cell structure 400 and cell structure 500can present a machining difficulty, which makes additive manufacturing adesirable approach. With reference to FIGS. 1-3, when produced via anadditive manufacturing process, the support structure, such as the ntunable spring beams (602 and 604) are mechanically connected, orintegrally joined, with the chamber 410 and the deflector shield 452. Asmay also be appreciated, boundaries between a chamber 410, an associatedsupport structure components (such as the tunable spring beams 602 and604), a respective deflector shield 452, and a respective cell structureceiling 816, when produced via additive manufacturing, may not bedistinctive. Although a flat panel array is depicted in FIG. 4, theprovided cell structure embodiments may be easily combined andintegrated into a variety of panel dimensions and shapes.

Thus, a novel cell structure (400, 500, and 806) for use in acousticpanels is provided. The provided cell structure has a geometry that maybe easily replicated into an array of a plurality of interconnected cellstructures. Arrays of the provided cell structure may be used to createacoustic panels for acoustic treatment in applications, such asaircraft, aircraft engines, automotive, mining, farming, audioequipment, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and thelike. The cell structure, and arrays thereof, may be produced using anadditive manufacturing technology. As is readily appreciated, the aboveexamples are non-limiting, and many other embodiments may meet thefunctionality described herein while not exceeding the scope of thedisclosure.

In this document, relational terms such as first and second, and thelike may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from anotherentity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actualsuch relationship or order between such entities or actions. Numericalordinals such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. simply denotedifferent singles of a plurality and do not imply any order or sequenceunless specifically defined by the claim language. The sequence of thetext in any of the claims does not imply that process steps must beperformed in a temporal or logical order according to such sequenceunless it is specifically defined by the language of the claim. Theprocess steps may be interchanged in any order without departing fromthe scope of the invention as long as such an interchange does notcontradict the claim language and is not logically nonsensical.

Furthermore, depending on the context, words such as “connect” or“coupled to” used in describing a relationship between differentelements do not imply that a direct physical connection must be madebetween these elements. For example, two elements may be connected toeach other physically, electronically, logically, or in any othermanner, through one or more additional elements.

While at least one embodiment has been presented in the foregoingdetailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that avast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that theembodiment or embodiments are only examples, and are not intended tolimit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in anyway. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide thoseskilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing anembodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changesmay be made in the function and arrangement of elements describedwithout departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims andtheir legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cell structure for use in an acoustic panel,the cell structure comprising: a cavity enclosed by a continuousboundary wall, the boundary wall (i) having a central axis, (ii) havinga regular shaped cross section perpendicular to the central axis, (iii)having a floor side and an entrance side, (iv) the entrance sideseparated from the floor side by a first height, (v) the floor sidehaving a cell structure floor modified to form a deflector shield thatis uniformly concave with respect to the inside of the cavity; a supportstructure arranged in the cavity; and a chamber suspended within thecavity by the support structure, the chamber being coaxial with theboundary wall and axisymmetric around the central axis, the chamberbeing closed on the entrance side and open on the floor side.
 2. Thecell structure of claim 1, wherein a maximum cross sectional area of thefloor side of the chamber is approximately 50% of a maximum crosssectional area of the cell structure.
 3. The cell structure of claim 2,wherein a maximum cross sectional area of the entrance side of thechamber is approximately 10% of the maximum cross sectional area of thecell structure.
 4. The cell structure of claim 3, wherein the boundarywall, support structure, and the chamber, are fabricated using anadditive manufacturing process.
 5. The cell structure of claim 4,wherein the support structure comprises a tunable spring beam attachedon a first end to the chamber and attached on a second end to the floorside.
 6. The cell structure of claim 5, wherein the tunable spring beamis one of three tunable spring beams, each attached on a first end tothe chamber and attached on a second end to the floor side, the threetunable spring beams separated radially around the central axis byapproximately 120 degrees.
 7. The cell structure of claim 4, wherein anopening in the floor side comprises approximately 30% of the crosssectional area of the floor side.
 8. The cell structure of claim 7,wherein the support structure comprises a tunable spring beam attachedon a first end to the chamber and attached on a second end to the floorside.
 9. The cell structure of claim 8, wherein the tunable spring beamis one of three tunable spring beams, each attached on a first end tothe chamber and attached on a second end to the floor side, the threetunable spring beams separated radially around the central axis byapproximately 120 degrees.
 10. The cell structure of claim 4, whereinthe boundary wall is perforated.
 11. The cell structure of claim 4,further comprising a cell structure ceiling with a through hole.
 12. Anadditively manufactured acoustic panel, the acoustic panel comprising: aplurality of integrally joined cell structures, each cell structure ofthe plurality of cell structures having the same entrance side and thesame floor side, each cell structure of the plurality of cell structurescomprising (a) a cavity enclosed by a continuous boundary wall, theboundary wall (i) having a central axis, (ii) having a regular shapedcross section perpendicular to the central axis, (iii) having a floorside and an entrance side, the floor side having a cell structure floormodified to form a deflector shield that is uniformly concave withrespect to an inside of the cavity, (iv) the entrance side separatedfrom the floor side by a first height; (b) a support structure arrangedin the cavity; and (c) a chamber suspended within the cavity by thesupport structure, the chamber being coaxial with the boundary wall andaxisymmetric around the central axis, the chamber being closed on theentrance side and open on the floor side.
 13. The acoustic panel ofclaim 12, wherein a maximum cross sectional area of the floor side ofeach chamber is approximately 50% of a maximum cross sectional area ofthe respective cell structure.
 14. The acoustic panel of claim 13,wherein a maximum cross sectional area of the entrance side of eachchamber is approximately 10% of the maximum cross sectional area of therespective cell structure.
 15. The acoustic panel of claim 14, wherein,for each cell structure, each support structure comprises a tunablespring beam attached on a first end to the respective chamber andattached on a second end to the respective floor side.
 16. The acousticpanel of claim 15, wherein, for each cell structure, the tunable springbeam is one of three tunable spring beams, each attached on a first endto the chamber and attached on a second end to the floor side, the threetunable spring beams separated radially around the central axis byapproximately 120 degrees.
 17. The acoustic panel of claim 14, wherein,for each cell structure, an opening in the floor side comprisesapproximately 30% of the cross sectional area of the respective floorside.
 18. The acoustic panel of claim 16, wherein, for each cellstructure, an opening in the floor side comprises approximately 30% ofthe cross sectional area of the respective floor side.
 19. A method formanufacturing a cell structure for an acoustic panel, the methodcomprising: creating a cavity with a central axis, a regular shapedcross section perpendicular to the central axis, a continuous boundarywall, an entrance side, and a floor side having a cell structure floormodified to form a deflector shield that is uniformly concave withrespect to an inside of the cavity; arranging a support structure in thecavity; and using the support structure to suspend a chamber within thecavity, the chamber being coaxial with the boundary wall andaxisymmetric around the central axis, the chamber being closed on theentrance side and open on the floor side; wherein a maximum crosssectional area of the floor side of the chamber is approximately 50% ofa maximum cross sectional area of the cell structure, and a maximumcross sectional area of the entrance side of the chamber isapproximately 10% of the maximum cross sectional area of the cellstructure.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, covering theentrance side of the cavity with a cell structure ceiling having athrough-hole therein.